Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 34, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 October 1901 — FARM AND GARDEN [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

FARM AND GARDEN

For \Ve«te-n Farmer*. The up-to-date farmer with a large acreage finds it slow work to plow his fields with the old single plows of the past, and so he utilizes the electric current and multiplies the number of plow' shares to suit himself. Ip the West this is practically a necessity, on account of the large size of the fields and“ the cost of labor and teams. Our illustration shows a convenient form of motor plow which has been designed by Conrad Meissner of Fredericksburg, Germany. It consists of two electric motors opera ting winding drums on separate carriages, which may be placed at any required distance apart, only one motor being connected with the main feed wire. To supply power to

the second motor a feed cable lying parallet,with the traction cable is readjusted at every trip of the plow to follow the latter down the field. The mechanism is so adjusted that when once set in motion the apparatus practically operates itself, moving the carriages forward at the beginning of each trip to bring the plowshares in position for the next row of furrows. The plows are attached to a two-wheeled truck, which is pulled back and forth across the field, moving forward aX-the end of each set of furrows as long as the power is turned on.

Grow nis Rye Profitably. In sections of the country where wheat was formerly an important crop, rye has largely taken its place. The best method of growing rye is to seed it with timothy in the fall, and follow it with clo-ver the next spring. This is the plan used where rye is in the regular rotation after corn and oats. To get the best results the seed should be sown thinly on fairly good soil. The time of-sowing usually being early in September, never later than, the middle of the month. If the soil is rich and In good shape, one and one-half bushels of seed per acre drilled in is sufficient On land that is poor, a bushel and three pecks is usually used in seeding. Rye straw brings good prices in the market, and as the grain is less likely to bts injured by insects than wheat, and cgn be grown on soil too poor for wheat, it can be used to advantage in feeding for certain stock. It is not particularly good for cows, as it seemingly injures the quality of the butter. It is excellent food for swine, nnd to a moderate extent for poultry. While it has no particular value as a legume, rye is vaf:/’ able to turn under for green manu/fng. —Exchange.

The Movab'e MansreY. When stock is fed in the field, as it is oftentimes convenient to du; a number as movable mangers will be found very useful. A horse such as is used by carpenters is constructed of light wood and a light board eight by twelve inches wide nailed to the legs on each side of the horse. This leaves sufficient space'between the board and the top bar of the horse for any animal to get his head In and feed. There is no need of having any bottom to this manger unless the feeding is done in some place where it is wet. Of course, if the feeding is done against a fence or

the side of a building or wall, it will be necessary to attach the board on that side of the horse.--Indianapolis News. Fllo and Knsilajte, People are fast learning that good ensilage can ouly be secured In a first class silo and that a silo mado of poor material or from lumber that warps or twists will always prove disappointing to its owner, says a writer In National Stockman. This is illustrated by the method of cnnulng fruit. If the can is sealed airtight, the fruit can be preserved all through the winter. But if the rubber pncklDg is poor or the top is uot screwed on tight, admitting the air, the contents “work" and ara spoiled. The same thing holds true with n silo. Unless the walla are Impervious to both air and moisture one must vet

expect to keep this ensilage sweet Thu cheap structures made of old fencu boards should not be called silos. Vessels of this kind have also led many men to reject silage and probably accounts for the unjust and sweeping condemnation of it by milk eondensarles. There has never been a food upon which all kinds of stock thrive so well and which gives such large returns as Indian corn, cut and preserved in a silo in the form of ensilage. As Prof. Henry says. “Cheap silos are a delusion and a snare, while good ones enable Indian corn to yield its greatest benefactions to man.”

The Va'.ne of Abandoned Farm*. Every once In a while communications come from farmers in the West and South, who, for reasons of their own, desire to-return to the Eastern States. They have read about the abandoned farms in-New England and New York, and seem to think that if they could obtain one of these farms at little or no cost, their future would be assured. In mapy cases these abandoned farms are simply lahd that is worn out, or too stony to be worked to advantage with the modern form crops. In nearly every case the vital objectipn to these farms is their distance from market. The great majority of them are located miles from a railroad or a market, which can only be reached over very rough and little traveled roads. Some of these farms are capable of being made profitable, but the expense of marketing the crops is so great that it is a question if it would pay any one to take up one of these places. Gradually, the increase in the number of troliey roads throughout the Eastern States is bringing these farms within easy access of markets, and as soon as these roads become a reality, the farms quickly disappear from the market. Any farmer who is located within reasonable distance of a good market, and who can reach it readily, had best stay where he is. Of course, if he is in a position to buy an improved farm better located than the one he at present occupies, that is a different matter, but as for taking up one of. these abandoned farms, it.would be like going from the frying pan into the fire.—lndianapolis News.

Winded Horse*. Horses and mules are frequently afflicted with broken wind, due, in the majority of cases, to being worked on a stomach filled with bulky food. If the trouble Is cared for early it may be Overcome. No coarse food should be fed winded horses during the day, but be given at night after the gniin has been eaten. Everything should be done to keep the animal comfortable; the stable should be well cleaned and ventilated and the bedding dry and abundant. A lump of rock salt should be kept in the manger at all times. After the horse is brought in from work he should be sponged all over with cold water, in which a little aqua ammonia has been placed. Then rub.tlie animal until dry. Do everything possible to prevent the horse becoming overheated, and if the bowels are constipated inixa tablespoonful of glauber salts in the drinking water three times a day, increasing -the amount if necessary to cause the bowels to move freely. Tills treatment will usually effect a cure. The Rel Poll Cow. The Red Poll is coming and will till an important place with the farmers who keep a few cows, milk them and

grow their calves. While of quito a different type, yet the Red Poll tills very nearly the same place that the oldfashioned heavy milking Shorthorns did twenty-five years ago.—Breeders’ Gazette.

Lump on J;i w. Actinomycosis Is characterized by a hard swelling on the side of the face, sometimes In connection with the upper jaw, and at other times It is the lower jaw that is affected. It is sometimes in the early stages loose from tlio bones; at other times it Is (irmly adhered to the ja wbone. When it Is small and just starting to grow and looso from the bones. It may lie dissected out, or It may be sloughed out with arsenic, but in any case iodide of potassa should be given, at least a dram a day, for two weeks or twenty days, according to the ease. It is the only remedy known that seems to have uny effect on it.

Dairy Utensil*. In dairy work there are three very Important things, brushes and plenty of clean white dish and wiping towels (not rugs), scalding water apd salsodu, says Rural New Yorker. The virtue contained In a pinch of sal soda cannot be estimated. It does uot take very long to run hems In towels for dairy work. There is nothing better than flour and salt sacks. They are soft and pliable; also easy to wash-. Hnve several dishcloths. Don’t use one for all the dairy work—one for separator, nnother for the butter uten. sils and still another for milk pails. Weak Kyev In Horse*. Keep a dark shade over the eyes during (lie daylight, batlje the eyes twice a day well lu hot water and put a few drops of the following lotion In the eyes after the bathing with a camel’s hair brush: Four gr/Una of sulphate of zinc, four grains of morphine, ten grains of cocaine nn4 one ounce of water.

ELECTRICALLY OPERATED PLOW.

A MOVABLE MANGER.

RED POLL. COW.